JPS60168117A - Small portable microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a portable compact microscope particularly suitable for use in inspecting the ends of fiber optic cables.The present invention relates to a portable compact microscope particularly suitable for use in inspecting the ends of fiber optic cables. , cables must be joined approximately every three miles.

And it must be ensured that proper terminal connections are made between the cables. Therefore, the installer must be able to inspect the end of the fiber optic cable using high magnification to ensure that there are no optical or mechanical defects. If the ends of fiber optic cables could be thoroughly and closely inspected for proper termination under high magnification, the incidence of defective installations would be substantially reduced.

Until now, such tests have been performed using ordinary laboratory microscopes modified to grasp fiber-optic cables. However, such modified microscopes are generally extremely difficult to handle. As a result, workers have difficulty performing their tasks because they often have to operate under less than ideal environmental and lighting conditions.

To alleviate these problems, US Patent Application No. 46 has already been published.
Small portable microscopes have been developed, such as that disclosed in US Pat. No. 0,522. The subject matter of this prior invention was a small, portable microscope that could be used by both manufacturing workers and field maintenance workers to inspect the ends of fiber optic cables.

However, the microscope described in the above-mentioned US patent application does not have any means for adjusting the relative position of the object within its field of view. This means of adjustment is extremely necessary;
In practice, this becomes essential as the magnification increases to, for example, 400 times and more. Known devices for making small adjustments to optical devices include U.S. Pat.
No. 349, No. 3962795.

However, the devices disclosed in these patent publications do not address the problem of being installed in a portable compact microscope that features an optical system that can be focused and centered so that the specimen can be properly examined. It does not provide any solutions. Therefore, the present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

A small portable microscope for inspecting the end of a fiber optic cable according to the present invention includes an optical tube assembly, which assembly (
,) movable to focus on a fixed object, and (b
) These spring biasing members are held in an optical barrel assembly for centering the specimen within the field of view of the microscope. A specimen support is attached to the housing near the objective lens of the optical tube assembly. A pair of adjustment members are disposed at an angle to each other and are retained in the optical tube assembly near the objective lens. The adjustment member is movable into and out of engagement with the optical barrel assembly, thereby slightly tilting the optical barrel assembly within the housing. This allows the optical axis to be displaced relative to the subject being examined. Therefore, centering of the subject within the field of view can be easily achieved.

This type of adjustment is useful and necessary when the magnification exceeds 400x. The microscope described in detail below can provide both factory workers and field maintenance workers with the ability to easily and accurately inspect the ends of fiber optic cables. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment The small portable microscope 10 includes a housing 12, a stage assembly 14, an optical tube assembly 16, a focusing mechanism 18, and the like. Housing 12 includes an upper half 20 and a lower half 22 which are interconnected in conventional manner (not shown).

As best seen in FIG. 1, the first housing half 20 has holes 24.26 which receive a spring 28.30 and a bearing foot 32.34, respectively. The housing half 20 also has a hemispherical eyepiece aperture 36 and an objective aperture 38.

The second housing body 22, as best seen in FIG. 3, has a pair of recesses Wr 40.42, each of which receives a fixed support foot 44.46. These shavings and feet are arranged at an angle of approximately 120° from each other. The housing half 22 also has a hemispherical eyepiece opening 48.
and an objective lens aperture 50. The white assembly 14 is attached to and extends from the surface 52 of the housing half 22 and includes a base 54 and a subject support 56 formed at right angles to the base. With reference to the figures, it will be seen that the support 56 resembles the shape of a C-shaped lamp. That is, it has a C-shaped arm 58 which has a fixing screw 60 and a stationary anvil portion 62.
and possesses. Anobile portion 62 has a V-groove 64 for receiving and positioning the end of fiber optic cable 66. A pair of adjustment screws 68.70 are respectively received in threaded holes 72.74 in sleeve 76.78. Although the above-mentioned frames 6 and 78 are shown as being formed in the white assembly 14, they are located on the housing half 22 and easily attached to the outer surface 52 or the inner surfaces 80-82. It is clear that the setting will be obtained. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the bosses 76, 78 are angularly disposed with respect to each other and form an approximately 90° angle. It is also apparent from the figure that the centers 684, 86 of each of the screws 68, 70 intersect with each other approximately on the optical axis 88 of the optical tube assembly 16. Further, a biasing spring 89 is inserted between the boss 78 and the adjusting screw, so that once the screw is adjusted, the adjusted state is maintained. The same adjustment screw 68 also includes a similar biasing spring (not shown).

Optical tube assembly 16 is commonly referred to as a housing microscope and includes an eyepiece 90, a lens tube 92, and an objective lens 94, all of which are disposed along optical axis 88. Both the eyepiece and the objective lens are replaceable, allowing the magnification of the microscope 10 to be increased or decreased.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3, the barrel portion 92 proximate the eyepiece 90 is supported within the housing 12 by spring-loaded support points 32 and fixed support feet 44 and 46. The objective lens end of the optical tube assembly 16 has an adjustment screw 68 .located at an angle with the spring-loaded foot 34 .
70 and is stationary and supported. As a result, the optical barrel assembly 16 is supported at both ends by a three-point support mechanism. As described below, adjustment screws 68,70 allow the objective end of assembly 16 to be varied relative to the subject being examined.

The focusing means 18 has a gripping wheel 96 which has an internal threaded hole 98.
have. The mandrel 100 includes a focusing detent 102 and an extension shaft 104, and is engaged through an externally threaded portion 106 with a threaded hole 98 in the handshake wheel.

The shaft 100 is attached to the optical tube assembly 1 by, for example, a screw 108.
It is locked to the lens barrel 92 of No. 6. Also, the mandrel 100 has a housing half groove 20 as shown in FIG. J”1
10 , 112 , with the gripping wheel 96 partially extending into the housing opening 114 . Coil spring member 116
is attached to the swivel of the extension shaft 104 and the shaft flange 118
and the ribs 110 of the housing.

In use, a fiber optic cable 66 having a length of 120' at one end is secured to the subject support 56.

The microscope is small and lightweight, allowing the operator to easily operate the microscope at line-of-sight and securely remove the end 1 of the cable 66.
20 microscopic examinations can be performed to check for optical and mechanical defects. If cable end 1
2(1) When the image is out of focus, the microscope operator simply rotates the gripping wheel 96, which mechanically connects the gripping wheel 96 to the lens barrel 92. ,
The entire optical barrel assembly 16 is moved back and forth within the housing 12 to clearly focus the image. Support legs 32°34.
44, 46 and the tips of the adjusting screws 68, 70 are made of a material with a small coefficient of friction, so the optical tube assembly 1
6fd can easily operate in a straight line. Also, spring 28
．． The force applied by 30 to support foot 32,34 is of such magnitude as to exert as little resistance as possible to the linear movement of optical tube assembly 16, while at the same time maintaining the orientation of optical axis 88. Force has been excursion.

In some cases, the cable end image 122 may not be properly positioned within the field of view of the microscope 10, as shown in FIG. When such a situation occurs, the operator can simply adjust the adjustment screws 68, 70 toward or away from the objective lens 94 to adjust the size of the image 12.
2 centering can be performed. For example, to properly center the soap 122 as seen in FIG.
All you have to do is screw in the screw 68 and return the screw 68.

In this way, the entire optical tube assembly is placed between the supporting legs 32° and 44°.
46, the lens barrel 92 is slightly pivoted to rotate the three-point support mechanism provided at the eyepiece end of the lens barrel 92.

Accordingly, the optical tube assembly is moved until the image 122 is centered relative to the rigidly fixed fiber optic cable 66. By setting the angle between the adjusting screws 68° and 70 to approximately 90° so that they intersect at approximately the optical axis 88, the adjustment operation of the adjusting screws of Yamao can easily adjust the angle between the other adjusting screws and the objective lens 94. This ensures that there are no constraints between them.

As is clear from the description, the microscope 10 includes an optical tube assembly 1
It is necessary to provide sufficient clearance between 6 and housing 12 to allow for the pivoting described above. The diameter of the opening formed when the previously described hemispherical openings 36 and 48 and 38 and 50 are fitted together is also sufficiently larger than the diameter of the optical tube assembly 16, allowing for free pivoting. It is scheduled to be held in

The support surface 124, clearly shown in FIG. 1, is used to remove the adjustment screw from the objective lens 94 and to replace the objective lens with another objective lens having a different magnification. It is provided to keep it in place.

It goes without saying that the above description has been given as an example, and is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Below margin

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

A partially sectional front view of the microscope, Figure 3 is 3- in Figure 1.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic illustrations of a subject being accommodated within the field of view of the microscope. 10... Small portable microscope, 12... Housing,
14... Stand string solid body, 16... Optical tube assembly, 18...
...Focusing mechanism, 68.70...adjustment screw. Patent Applicant Bausch & Rohm Incorporated Patent Attorney Akira Aoki Patent Attorney Kazuyuki Nishidate Patent Attorney Kyo Nakayama Patent Attorney Akira Yamaguchi Patent Attorney Masaya Nishiyama IF document of the drawing (changed to γi) Najin FIG, 20 and FIG, 3 Procedural amendment (formality) March 1, 1985 Manabu Shiga, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office 1, Indication of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 237692 2, Title of the invention Small size Portable microscope 3. Relationship with the person making the amendment Patent applicant name Bausch & Rohm Incorporated 4, agent (4 others) 5. Date of amendment order February 26, 1985 (shipping date) 6 , drawings to be amended 7, engravings of the drawings with the content of the amendments (no change in content) 8, engraving drawings with a list of attached documents 1 copy

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A small portable microscope includes a housing, an optical tube assembly having an eyepiece lens and an objective lens supported within the housing and disposed along an optical axis, and the housing. an adjusting means supported by the optical tube assembly and coupled to the optical tube assembly for adjusting the focus of the optical tube assembly in the direction of the optical axis alignment; and an adjusting means for pivoting the optical tube assembly with respect to the housing. 1. A small portable microscope characterized by comprising a means for moving the microscope. 2. The pivot inducing means operatively engages the first means for mounting the optical tube assembly to the housing and moves the optical tube assembly relative to the housing, thereby A small portable microscope according to claim 1, further comprising second means for adjusting the objective lens with respect to the position of the object to be inspected. 3. The small portable microscope according to claim 2, wherein the first means comprises at least one elastic member mounted between the housing and the optical tube assembly. 4. The first means comprises a spring-loaded foot member and at least one stationary foot member, which are attached to the housing and engage the optical tube assembly. Compact portable microscope 05 according to paragraph 2, wherein said second means comprises at least one member adjustably supported by said housing and engaged with said optical tube assembly, whereby said adjustable 3. The small portable microscope according to claim 2, wherein the position of the objective lens relative to the housing and the object to be inspected is changed by changing the position of the member. 6. The second means comprises a pair of adjustment members arranged at angles to each other and held on the optical tube assembly near the objective lens, thereby adjusting the 3. A small portable microscope according to claim 2, wherein the position of the objective lens is displaced relative to the housing and the object to be inspected by adjusting either one of the adjusting members. 7. The adjustment means includes a first member rotatably supported by the housing and a non-rotatable second member received by the first member and coupled to the optical barrel assembly. , whereby the second member and the optical tube assembly are moved linearly with respect to the housing due to the rotation of the first member. . 8. The first member includes an internally threaded gripping wheel that is at least partially accessible to an operator through the housing, and the second member includes an externally threaded shaft assembly; 8. The compact portable microscope of claim 7, wherein a portion of said shaft assembly is received in said grip wheel. 9. The small portable microscope according to claim 7, further comprising means for pressing the second member against the housing.